Arc motivation device

Abstract

A circuit interrupter including an arc extinguisher which functions to arrest an arc that develops between electrical contacts. The circuit interrupter includes a permanent magnet coupled at opposite ends to two magnetically permeable pole pieces that are configured to drive or urge an arc into toward an arc extinguisher. The device allows for arc motivation due to the magnetic field without requiring the use of electrical power and allows for a rugged, light-weight design.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A circuit interrupter including arc suppression comprising:
 a first contact electrically connectable to a power source; 
 a second contact electrically connectable to a load; 
 said first and second contacts being movable between a closed and open position relative to each other; 
 an arc extinguisher for extinguishing an arc that develops in the vicinity of said first and second contacts; 
 a permanent magnet disposed in the vicinity of at least one of the contacts, said permanent magnet having a first end having a first magnetic polarity and a second end having a second magnetic polarity opposite to the first magnetic polarity, said permanent magnet generating a magnetic field; 
 a first pole piece comprising a magnetically permeable material; 
 a second pole piece comprising a magnetically permeable material, said second pole piece positioned apart from and substantially parallel with said first pole piece to form a gap where said first and second contacts are positioned; 
 said first pole piece positioned adjacent to the first end having the first magnetic polarity and said second pole piece positioned adjacent to the second end having the second magnetic polarity; 
 a non-magnetic pole structure having:
 a first non-magnetic pole piece extending along a longitudinal length of said first pole piece and positioned in the gap between said first pole piece and said contacts; 
 a second non-magnetic pole piece extending along a longitudinal length of said second pole piece and positioned in the gap between said second pole piece and said contacts; and 
 a non-magnetic connecting portion connecting one end of said first non-magnetic pole piece to one end of said second non-magnetic pole piece, said non-magnetic connecting portion positioned in the gap between said permanent magnet and said contacts; 
 
 wherein the magnetic field extends across a gap formed between the first and second pole pieces such that an arc that forms in the gap is drawn in a direction toward said arc extinguisher. 
 
     
     
       2. The circuit interrupter according to  claim 1  wherein said first non-magnetic pole piece extends a longitudinal length that is substantially equal to a longitudinal length of said first pole piece, and said second non-magnetic pole piece extends a longitudinal length that is substantially equal to a longitudinal length of second first pole piece. 
     
     
       3. The circuit interrupter according to  claim 1  wherein said non-magnetic connecting portion is formed as a magnet retainer. 
     
     
       4. The circuit interrupter according to  claim 3  wherein said first and second non-magnetic pole pieces and said magnet retainer are all formed as a single unitary structure comprising a non-magnetic structure. 
     
     
       5. The circuit interrupter according to  claim 4  wherein an exterior surface of said first and second non-magnetic pole pieces each comprise a cavity with a raised perimeter edge that extends at least partially around a perimeter of each of said first and second non-magnetic pole pieces. 
     
     
       6. The circuit interrupter according to  claim 5  wherein each of said first and second pole pieces are positioned in the respective cavities located in the exterior surfaces of each of said first and second non-magnetic pole pieces. 
     
     
       7. The circuit interrupter according to  claim 6  wherein the raised perimeter edges extends upwards from the exterior surface of said first and second non-magnetic pole pieces such that they are essentially flush with an outer surface of the respective pole piece positioned in the respective cavity. 
     
     
       8. The circuit interrupter according to  claim 4  wherein an interior surface of said first and second non-magnetic pole pieces each comprise a plurality of raised portions that run traverse to a longitudinal length of said first and second non-magnetic pole pieces. 
     
     
       9. The circuit interrupter according to  claim 1  wherein said permanent magnet consists of a single permanent magnet having rectangular shape. 
     
     
       10. The circuit interrupter according to  claim 1  wherein said first and second pole piece each comprise steel. 
     
     
       11. The circuit interrupter according to  claim 1  wherein said first pole piece comprises a flat structure having a width and a longitudinal length defined by a first end and a second end, where the longitudinal length is greater than the width. 
     
     
       12. The circuit interrupter according to  claim 11  wherein the first end of said first pole piece is positioned in the vicinity of the first end of said permanent magnet, and a width of the first end of the first pole piece is greater than a width of the second end of the first pole piece. 
     
     
       13. The circuit interrupter according to  claim 1  said first pole piece is positioned in contact with the first end of said permanent magnet and said second pole piece is positioned in contact with the second end of said permanent magnet. 
     
     
       14. The circuit interrupter of  claim 1 , wherein said arc extinguisher comprises a first arc path and a second arc path. 
     
     
       15. The circuit interrupter of  claim 14 , wherein the first arc path extends in a direction substantially parallel to the second arc path. 
     
     
       16. The circuit interrupter of  claim 14 , wherein the first arc path extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the second arc path. 
     
     
       17. The circuit interrupter of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second contacts are positioned one above the other and said permanent magnet is positioned below both said first and second contacts.